A convicted felon from the Cuyama area is in the Santa Barbara County Jail after he was found to be in possession of several firearms. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies from the Cuyama sub-station responded to a home in the Ventucopa area at approximately 4 a.m. on April 22, after a woman called 9-1-1 from the residence to say she was being threatened by a male subject with a shotgun.

When Sheriff’s deputies arrived, the alleged female victim was not at the residence, but the homeowner, 62-year-old Marc Steele was home alone. Steele, who is a convicted felon and known to law enforcement, told Sheriff’s deputies that he had gotten into a disagreement with a female escort and her male chaperone over payment. He denied threatening the escort but admitted to having a shotgun in his garage. Sheriff’s deputies confiscated the shotgun and arrested Steele for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail and booked.

At approximately 2:00 p.m. that same day, Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at Steele’s residence and discovered an additional shotgun and three rifles. They also seized about 500 rounds of ammunition and a small amount of suspected methamphetamine. Steele is being held on $80,000 dollars bail.

Sheriff’s deputies are attempting to locate and interview the female escort and her male chaperone that are reportedly from the Bakersfield area. If you have any information regarding this case, you are asked to call the Cuyama sub-station at 661-766-2310.